I'm a Hippie and I Have the T-Shirts to Prove It!

by TyKes Mom
(USA)

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle are synonymous with money-saving. I became a hippie by utilizing old items in our house for other purposes in order to save money. I wanted to share with you some great ways to re-use old cotton t-shirts. Here’s what you can do with them:

-Make some artwork from an old t-shirt and hanging file folders (or any other type of folder). Just cut up the shirt and layer it with the file folders. Then cut out a design and place it on the contrasting color. To make this really cheap, skip the frame and just tack it to the wall.

-Cotton t-shirts make excellent homemade paper towels. Cut them into squares and store them in a container or wrap them around an old paper towel tube. Once you use them, toss them in the laundry.

-They also make great homemade coffee filters. Cut the fabric to fit the shape of your coffee maker. Sew along the seam. It can be used for weeks before you have to replace it with another t-shirt.

-Use them as dusting rags. Just wet them with water and dust away then toss them in with the rest of the laundry!

-They are perfect for diaper wipes. Cut them into squares, moisten them with water, and store them in an old Huggies wipes container. Wash them with your cloth diapers.

-Sew a bunch of different patterns together for an eclectic looking table cloth for an end table or a casual throw rug in your bathroom.

-Cut out a bib pattern using a couple different layers and sew them together to create a hem. Sew on a button to attach the bib in the back.

I am sure there are many more ways to use old t-shirts in order to reduce, reuse, and recycle while saving lots of money. For more of my tips, check out http://the-north-forty.com.